Method: Sea Ice Coverage
Use Special Sensor Microwave/Imagers satellites F8, F11, and F13 to measure microwave radiation (Johannessen et al 1999)
Use ArcGIS to analyze data (Johnston et al 2001)
Measure volume of sea ice coverage every month
Find yearly average each year from 2015 to 2025
Observe duration of the ice-free season each year from 2015 to 2025
www.noaanews.noaa.gov

Method: Population
Use aerial surveys (Myers & Bowen 1989)
Count population in 10% of the area each month by using evenly spaced vertical lines 65 miles apart
Multiply by 10 to estimate total population
Find yearly average for 10 years from 2015-2025
65 miles
withfriendship.com

Method: Birth Rate of Pups
Use of aerial surveys
Count pup population in 10% of the area by using evenly spaced vertical lines 65 miles apart
Each mating season (April-May) for 10 years (McLaren 2011)
www.aerialsurvey.de
withfriendship.com

Discussion
Climate change increases > sea ice coverage decreases
Decreased by 1400 km2/year from 1978-1996 (Gagnon & Gough 2005)
Now decreasing by more and more each year
If this continues, only 750,000km2 in 2015 and 50,000km2 by 2025
Decrease to only 1/15 of original coverage in just 10 years
www.polarprince.com

Discussion (Continued)
Climate change increases > duration of the ice-free season increases
In the past ice-free season has been from mid-August to late October (Gagnon & Gough 2005)
Around 75 days
If this continues, it will rise to 187 days in 2015 to 221 days by 2025
walrusmagazine.com
http://images.nationalgeographic.com

Discussion (Continued)
Dropped from 250,000 in 2015 to 125,000 by 2025
Decreasing Sea-ice Coverage
Increasing Duration of Ice-free Season
www.polarprince.com
latimesblogs.latimes.com
Dropped from 250,000 in 2015 to 125,000 by 2025
The Number of Bearded Seals
latimesblogs.latimes.com

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Shawn Noren, Patrick Robinson, Walter, and Katy Kriscunas for providing me with this wonderful experience and supporting me through my research.
http://www.hi-wallpapers.com